Schneider Electric: 'Raccoon Party' (starts at 00:06) - France

In Britain (whatever that is by the time you read this) we can be grateful that we don't have to put up with raccoons because the little critters will invade your home, turn on all your lights, ignite your fires, put on the hi-fi and run hot water all night long. At least that's what this French advert for Schneider Electric would have us believe.Agency: BETC (Paris)Director: Jim Hosking

VW Tiguan: 'Compromises' (starts at 01:02) - UK

The scenarios in this charming commercial offer an insight into parental compromise as we watch a dad cede his own wishes to those of his offspring. Only when he's behind the wheel of the advertised car is he able to regain any sense of his own priorities and enjoy a brief moment of respite from the onerous responsibilities of modern dadhood.Agency: adam&eveDDBDirector: James Rouse

Canon: 'Gladiator Football' (starts at 02:07) - UK

Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer has captured the spectacle of Florence's Calcio Storico – an annual contest which has retained the brutality of football's medieval origins in an apparent free-for-all of physical violence. The footage is beautiful, and that's very much the point as the whole thing was shot using commercially-available equipment made by Canon.Agency: JWT LondonDirector: Jonathan Glazer

The Guardian: 'Dreaming About This Weekend' (starts at 03:40) - UK

You could argue that this commercial has been included to please Ad Break's dynastic overlords at Guardian HQ, but you'd be wrong. It's been included because it's a fine piece of work which brilliantly evokes the sheer breadth and wonder of the marvellous Weekend supplement that comes each Saturday with this newspaper ... which you should definitely buy.Agency: Bartle Bogle HegartyDirector: Simon Ratigan

A little boy holds his breath throughout the day as if trying to break some kind of record. When viewed in a normal ad break on television, this must have considerable impact. When we watch it here, we already know it aims to raise awareness of cancer so we can guess where it's leading. Even so – because it's been captured so skilfully – it's still a striking piece of communication and will have resonance for anyone who grew up with a parent who smoked.Agency: Havas Worldwide (Helsinki)Director: Mikko Lehtinen

Guinness: 'Gates' (starts at 06:18) - US

This is a lovingly-crafted spot for the famous stout; emphasising its heritage via the brewers who have maintained family traditions and continued to work in the business generation after generation. Irish actor Cillian Murphy's voiceover has surprising gravitas as he describes the ambition and scale of a company who are only a few hundred years into the 9,000-year-long lease on their brewery. Now that's commitment!Agency: Quaker City MercantileDirector: Phillip Montgomery